“My lawyer will have everything ready in New York.”
“I’m not going back there, so tell him to send it here.”
I don’t reply because she’s upset enough as it is.
Caution creeps into those big, jade-colored eyes. “We had a deal, Dante.”
“I never accepted it.”
She gets to her feet, clutching the cup in a white-knuckled grip. “You fucked me.”
“That’s on you, darling. I guess you gave that one away for free.”
Lifting the cup, she chucks the content at me. Scalding hot tea hits my chest.
She points at an open drawer where her T-shirts are packed. “Why did you bring all our stuff here, huh?” She drops the cup and charges me. “What game are you playing this time, Dante?” Slapping and scratching, she goes for my face. “This is my fucking life, mine and my child’s.”
I catch her wrists before she can do damage. “You’re wrought out and tired. You need a warm bath and to go to bed.”
“Don’t fucking patronize me.” She hisses. “Don’t you dare treat me like a child.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Then stop playing games and tell me why you moved our things in here.”
“Because your door is broken.” That’s all I give her for now. “You don’t want anything to be stolen.”
Just like that, the strength leaves her body. She sags in my hold. “The landlord?—”
“I already instructed my men to fix the door tomorrow. I’ll pay for the damage. Now, come on. Let’s get you cleaned up. You’ll sleep better after a relaxing bath.”
She wrestles to free herself and fights me until I let her go.
I raise my hands, showing her I’m not going to force her.
She doesn’t move.
I make another cup of tea while keeping one eye on her, taking care to make it less hot. This time, she drinks the sweet tea without arguing. When I take the empty cup from her, she turns and walks to the bathroom without a word or a backward glance.
“Tatiana.”
She pauses on the threshold.
Any fool can see she’s shaken up. “If you let me, I can take care of you.”
She flips me off, goes into the bathroom, and shuts the door. A click announces she’s turned the lock. A moment later, the water in the shower comes on.
I let her get away for now. With everything I’m about to put her through, she’ll have more than enough to deal with later.
Chapter
Three
Tatiana
* * *
“Get your slut of a daughter out of my sight before I kill her.”
